By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Another game for Luka Doncic in Los Angeles, another win for the Lakers.
The Slovenian star led the LA team to another victory over city rivals, the Clippers, as they won at Crypto.com Arena, 108-102.
Luka finished the game with 29 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, hitting five three-pointers—his personal best since the trade. Doncic also commented on the idea that teams play harder against the Lakers.
“I didn’t believe it before, but they say if somebody’s out for a long time, then they play against the Lakers… So I think that’s normal now,” the former Dallas Mavericks star said.
Interestingly, LeBron James followed with 17 points and nine assists, staying one point shy of 50,000 career points.
On the other side, Bogdan Bogdanović added 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc, while Ivica Zubac recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
After their sixth straight victory, the LA Lakers improved to 38-21, taking over second place in the Western Conference standings.
Micić makes Suns debut, Pöltl and Hartenstein post double-doubles in road wins
On other courts, the New York Knicks won against the Miami Heat on the road after overtime, 116-112, with OG Anunoby playing a big role, nearing a double-double with 23 points and nine rebounds.
Darko Rajaković’s Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 104-102 in Florida as well, with Jakob Pöltl recording a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Franz Wagner scored 25 points and grabbed four rebounds for the hosts, who made a strong late push but ultimately fell two points short.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won on the road against the San Antonio Spurs, 146-132, with Isaiah Hartenstein contributing 10 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Jeremy Sochan added 17 points for the losing side.
The Minnesota Timberwolves also won away from home, taking down the Phoenix Suns in Arizona, 116-98, as Anthony Edwards scored 44 points, while Vasilije Micić made his debut for the Suns. However, he played for just a minute and 38 seconds, remaining scoreless.
Nikola Jokic nears triple-double in losing effort for the Nuggets
Miami Heat – New York Knicks 112-116 OT
Orlando Magic – Toronto Raptors 102-104
San Antonio Spurs – Oklahoma City Thunder 132-146
Utah Jazz – New Orleans Pelicans 121-128
Los Angeles Lakers – Los Angeles Clippers 108-102
Phoenix Suns – Minnesota Timberwolves 98-116
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder 49-11
- Los Angeles Lakers 38-21
- Denver Nuggets 39-22
- Memphis Grizzlies 38-22
- Houston Rockets 37-23
- Los Angeles Clippers 32-28
- Golden State Warriors 32-28
- Minnesota Timberwolves 33-29
- Sacramento Kings 31-28
- Dallas Mavericks 32-29
- Phoenix Suns 28-33
- Portland Trail Blazers 27-34
- San Antonio Spurs 25-34
- New Orleans Pelicans 17-44
- Utah Jazz 15-45
Eastern Conference
- Cleveland Cavaliers 50-10
- Boston Celtics 43-18
- New York Knicks 40-20
- Milwaukee Bucks 34-25
- Indiana Pacers 34-25
- Detroit Pistons 34-27
- Miami Heat 28-31
- Orlando Magic 29-33
- Atlanta Hawks 27-33
- Chicago Bulls 24-37
- Philadelphia 76ers 21-38
- Brooklyn Nets 21-39
- Toronto Raptors 19-42
- Charlotte Hornets 14-45
- Washington Wizards 11-48